$2.07m cash smuggling: Court convicts two Lebanese

A FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has convicted two Lebanese, Hassan Rmaiti and Talal Hammoud, who were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos on November 26 with $2,073,160.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke, ordered that the convicts should forfeit $25,310, being 25 per cent of the undeclared sum, to the Federal Government.

A statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the Lebanese were guilty of violating the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011.

The statement reads: “While Hassan Rmaiti was arrested with $1,971,920, Talal Hammoud was caught with $101,240. The convicts were on their way to Lebanon when they were arrested for failure to declare the money to Customs at the airport as required under section 12 of the foreign exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provision) Act cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigerian 2004 and section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011.

“The one count charge against Hammoud reads: That you Talal Hammoud on or about the 7th of November, 2012 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash the sum of $101,240.00 from Nigeria to Lebanon failed to declare to the Nigerian Customs Service the said amount of $101,240.00 as required under section 12 of the foreign exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provision) Act cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigerian 2004 and section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Pr0hibition) Act ) 2011.”